How to Make Turkey Stock and What Brand to Buy

When you’re making Thanksgiving gravy, the stock itself can get lost amid all the other concerns. Don’t let it! Stock is the base for your gravy, and its flavor will permeate everything from the turkey to the mashed potatoes to the stuffing. Here’s how to make it great:

Make It at HomeHomemade turkey stock is your best bet. It’s more flavorful and doesn’t have the dyes and preservatives you might find in commercial preparations. All you need are some turkey wings and a turkey neck, water, aromatics, herbs, and spices. Our recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead and produces 6 cups of stock. Pick Out a Store-Bought Brand…CarefullyNot all supermarket stocks are created equal. If you forgot to buy your turkey wings ahead of time or are just lazy (sorry, overworked!), we have you covered: Here are our two favorite, BA-approved chicken stocks that you can buy in any supermarket. Keep in mind, those store-bought stocks were just the least terrible of them all. We still strongly encourage you to make your own. You’ll thank us for it.